The Untold Truth Of Psychedelic Water

Psychedelics, like psilocybin (the active ingredient in "magic mushrooms") and LSD, are having a moment in pop culture. Most psychedelics have been illegal since the 1950s and '60s, despite being used in psychiatric experiments during those decades. However, The Guardian claims that we are moving into a psychedelic renaissance. As mental health problems become more prevalent, people are looking for solutions — and psychedelics may be one of them. While most psychedelics may be off-limits to those who prefer to abide by federal and state laws, some compounds are still very much legal ... and very much on the market. In fact, one such beverage is making its presence known on social media. 

If you spend any time on TikTok, you may have seen a new product popping up recently. It's called Psychedelic Water, and the eye-catching cans it comes in are enough to make you want to give it a try. But if you're unsure of what you're getting into when you pop open a can, you're in the right place. We've talked to Ben Rogul, the head of marketing for Psychedelic Water, and done some digging on our own to get the 411 on what you can really expect when you try it out. This is the untold truth of Psychedelic Water.

We know what you're thinking: How is this kind of thing even legal? Well, as it turns out, you're not going to get a massive dose of LSD when you take a sip of this drink. Actually, you're not going to get any at all. That's because the psychedelics in Psychedelic Water are totally legal. These drinks contain kava, which is a mildly psychedelic compound that's been used by various cultures in Oceania for thousands of years, according to the company's website. This ingredient causes tingling on the tongue for about 80% of users, and it can also cause euphoria and relaxation. You're not going to see hallucinations or even feel "high," per se, but you may find yourself feeling just a little better than you did before.

Additionally, the drink contains damiana leaf extract, which has shown to have multiple health benefits. It's also infused with green tea extract, so it'll give you a slight boost of energy even as you start to feel more relaxed.

Because these ingredients are so mild, most people can feel confident that this drink isn't going to mess them up or impair their judgment. At the same time, the drink may produce a fun, giddy feeling that you won't get when you're drinking normal sparkling water.

The word "water" may be kind of a misnomer here since these drinks definitely have a lot of flavor to them. Kava is known for having a strong taste, so Psychedelic Water responded by adding flavor blends that make these drinks delicious. We suggest the blackberry yuzu for all those who like a sweet drink with a bit of a kick. It's not intensely sweet, but it has just enough sugary taste to keep us coming back for more. The sharpness of the yuzu plays nicely with the sweet flavor of the blackberry. However, we have to admit that we like the hibiscus lime flavor even more. With the mix of floral notes and acidity, you have a drink that you won't be able to get enough of.

But our favorite is the oolong orange blossom. This one has plenty of citrus notes to it, but the tannins of the oolong and the floral qualities of the drink make it more interesting than most canned drinks we've tried. We love that the company is as forward-thinking with their flavors as they are with psychedelics.

According to Rogul, the founder of the company, Keith Stein, started off in the cannabis business before he dreamt up the idea of Psychedelic Water. Many regard the cannabis business as an area in which a lot of growth is possible, so it makes sense that Stein wanted to push into the next new thing. Psychedelics seemed like the perfect fit.

"He wanted to create a consumer-facing product that was a, pardon my French, but a 'no-bull**** product' that the consumer would actually feel a mild psychedelic experience," says Rogul. That product was Psychedelic Water. Stein's vision was to give consumers "a mild psychedelic experience to introduce the world, from a consumer standpoint, to psychedelics."

While this product is already a hit, this particular drink isn't the company's end goal. Rogul says, "The big message that we really want to convey is we want to open up the conversation, we want to demystify them, destigmatize psychedelics, and bring the whole health benefit side and not the whole 'hey I'm going to melt my face off with LSD,' you know, try to open up that conversation and let people know there's a lot more to these substances."

For those who prefer a, uh, stronger drink, Psychedelic Water is a company to keep your eye on. Rogul told us that the company is advocating for changes to the law that would allow for more intense psychedelic products to enter the market. Psychedelic Water is just the beginning. Rogul says, "Ultimately, we want to open up the conversation and push for legal reform of illegal psychedelics."

Of course, many of the most well-known psychedelics are still illegal in the United States and most of the rest of the world, so you shouldn't necessarily be checking store shelves for products containing psilocybin anytime soon. However, we think it's interesting that Psychedelic Water is getting in on policy discussions surrounding these substances. A push from the commercial market may be just what government needs to make changes to legislation. Until then, we'll be sipping on our very much legal Psychedelic Water.

If you first heard of Psychedelic Water on TikTok, you're not alone. Rogul says the brand didn't even have a TikTok, but someone posted a video about the drink, and it went viral. It makes sense — given its eye-catching packaging and Gen-Z appeal, we're not surprised that it blew up on the video-sharing app. So, it shouldn't come as a surprise that the "biggest chunk" of customers, according to Rogul, are between 18 and 34 years of age.

But young people aren't the only ones to get in on the trend of drinking Psychedelic Water. Older customers have also been flocking to the product as well. Per Rogul, the company "gets 50-, 55-, 60-year olds who are customers ... and absolutely love our product."

While the name of the product might appeal more to younger consumers, with the company's work on destigmatizing psychedelics, we expect more and more older customers to get on board with the product and try it for themselves.

When you think of a drink you use to socialize, alcohol is usually the first thing that comes to mind. Of course, a beer, a cocktail, or some wine is always a fun addition to a party, but what about those who don't drink? Or what about when you just want to give your liver a break but don't want to give up on having a fun time? That's where Psychedelic Water comes in. We love that it offers a social boost to the evening while remaining completely alcohol-free.

Rogul says that the company unintentionally ended up in the non-alcoholic beverage sphere, and it's working for them. "We have a lot of sober customers," he told us. Some of the company's investors even abstain from alcohol, which is part of the reason why they were attracted to the product in the first place.

Whether you avoid alcohol completely or you just want to drink less of it, Psychedelic Water is a great swap. It's a bit more interesting than a plain sparkling water, and it's a great icebreaker — we bet most of your friends haven't tried it yet.

You may be wondering in what context you should even use Psychedelic Water. Well, since it's not an intense psychedelic, you don't have to worry about an intense reaction in most cases. In fact, Rogul says it can be used in a variety of settings. He says that oftentimes, the drink makes people feel slightly more social, so it's a great beverage to take to a party if you're looking for something a little different than a bottle of wine. Drink it when you have friends over or before you go out for the night.

However, we wouldn't necessarily class this beverage as a party drink either. Since it makes you feel relaxed, you can take a few sips before plopping onto the couch for some much-deserved Netflix time. In fact, Rogul even says that some people drink it before work, as it helps them get their day off to a great start with a "calm, euphoric feeling."

Our advice? The first time you drink it, make sure you don't have much going on. That way, you can get a better sense of how it affects you and take it from there. As long as it makes you feel great, there's no wrong time to sip on some Psychedelic Water.

Ultimately, it looks like Psychedelic Water is poised to push into more traditional hallucinogens if and when they become legal. But that day may be way off in the distant horizon, and the company isn't waiting until that point before they introduce new products onto the market. Rogul says that they plan to release a new flavor in 2022, and considering how good the ones they have out now are, we're looking forward to it. But what about other totally different products?

Well, if you're interested in microdosing, you'll want to keep an eye on what Psychedelic Water's plans are for the future. Rogul spoke to us about a microdosing product that the company will be rolling out at some point. It will contain legal functional mushrooms, like cordyceps, along with other nootropics that "mimic the effects of microdosing with psilocybin." The product will be available in two different flavors and come in two-ounce shots.

Whether you're interested in microdosing specifically or are just open to new ways to get your day off to a great start, you may want to see what Psychedelic Water has in the pipeline.